Multiple Congress Members Now Demanding Trump Be Investigated After New Documents Surface

Multiple Congress Members Now Demanding Trump Be Investigated After New Documents Surface

A group of congressional Democrats sent a letter to the head of the Government Services Administration expressing concerns about President Donald Trump’s decision to reverse long-standing plans to move the headquarters of the FBI from its current location across from the Trump Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue in to the suburbs. The group claims that Trump only did so to protect his own financial interests.

Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), the Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), the Ranking Member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (D-VA), the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Government Operations, Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL), the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, and Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV), the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management are the members of congress who jointly signed a letter to GSA Administrator Emily Murphy after viewing documents and emails that show:

“a more expensive plan to keep the existing property on Pennsylvania Avenue, demolish the existing building, and construct a new facility on the same site—and thereby prevent commercial developers from competing with the Trump Hotel directly across the street—was approved during a meeting with President Trump at the Oval Office on January 24, 2018,”

The letter continued with:

“As a direct result of President Trump’s clear conflict of interest on this matter, we are now requesting information and documents to determine whether the President is making decisions about the FBI headquarters building based on what is best for the country or what is best for his own financial bottom-line.”

The group argues that Trump shouldn’t have any input into such decisions, as his personal finances are too close to the issue:

“Given this background, President Trump should have avoided all interactions or communications relating to the FBI headquarters project to prevent both real and perceived conflicts of interest,” the Ranking Members added. “He should not have played any role in a determination that bears directly on his own financial interests with the Trump Hotel. The GSA also should have taken steps to wall off the decision from improper influence.”